Bingo!

If there's bingo, Belia Lopez and Marian Wilkerson will be there.

The two ladies sat Thursday in the newly opened Big Bucks Bingo armed with dinner, some dough and computerized bingo machines. They had two missions in mind - to win a little money and have a lot of fun.

"It's good entertainment," Lopez said. "You get to meet new people. It's just a lot of fun."

And it helps to know that all of Big Bucks Bingo's proceeds, minus operating costs, go to charity.

Rosie Lopez, Texas Lottery Charitable Bingo advisory member, said it's the only hall in Odessa that's independently operated by the charities it benefits: Keep Odessa Beautiful, Heritage of Odessa Foundation, Odessa Jaycees and White-Pool House Friends.

This allows all profits to go directly toward helping those organizations. Rosie Lopez said other halls in town are obligated to give away at least 35 percent of what they make. 

She said about 60 percent of Big Bucks' revenue goes toward payouts and 30 percent covers operating costs, leaving about 10 percent to the charities.

She estimates Big Bucks will make about $10,000 for the four nonprofits this year.

"Bingo is not your old grandma's game anymore," Rosie Lopez said. "Instead of crossing the state line to New Mexico, you can do that right here. You're spending money here locally, and it stays with local charities."

Texas voters approved charitable bingo in 1980, enabling nonprofits to operate halls for fund-raising. The Texas Lottery Commission monitors the industry.

The four charities Big Bucks Bingo benefits began Strike It Rich bingo in 1982. They broke off in February to start Big Bucks, which opened last Tuesday.

Strike It Rich now supports the Mexican American Scholarship Committee, Rotary Club, Meteor Crater Friends and the Odessa Shrine Club, according to the Texas Lottery Commission's charitable bingo website.

Rosie Lopez wouldn't disclose how much Big Bucks has given back, but manager Mary Lacy said she has to make about $2,400 nightly to break even. She's been able to make it so far.

"And that's a good thing," Lacy said. "It stays right here in the community."

Lacy said there's $5,000 for traditional bingo players to win each night, and gamblers can win $5,000 from playing event tabs - sort of like lottery tickets that correspond to whatever bingo numbers are called.

Kids as young as 8 can play as long as they stay with their parents.

"The charities need that help," Belia Lopez said.

PHONE HOME

>> Big Bucks Bingo, 3306 Andrews Highway, 432-366-2806.

WHO IT HELPS

>> Heritage of Odessa Foundation: They take care of the Parker House Museum.

>> Keep Odessa Beautiful: Helps with litter prevention, beautification and recycling.

>> Odessa Jaycees: Junior Chamber of Commerce.

>> White-Pool House Friends: Odessa's museum of the oldest residential structure. It was built in 1876.

OTHER HALLS

>> Strike It Rich Bingo: 1353 W. University Blvd., 580-4555.

>> VFW Post 4372 Bingo Hall: 6212 Andrews Highway, 363-0378.

>> Ector Lions Club and Bingo Hall: 328 Dobbs Ave., 337-9229.